James Van Der Beek Posts

50,116 Likes | about 22 hours ago | 2,921

Some abortion opponents sincerely believe life begins at conception. They believe abortion is murder. And no one can say with absolute certainty whether that belief is right or wrong.... Which is why we can’t legislate religious beliefs. The ethical argument here is complex, and the only thing I know for sure is that I have no right to tell anyone how to think or what to choose. For all the women out there fighting for sovereignty over your own body... I support you.

12,139 Likes | 5 days ago | 181

One uncropped photo, so many questions: 1) Did I spontaneously increase in size so quickly that @vanderkimberly couldn’t get my head in frame? 2) Or... did everyone else at the farmer’s market - including @vanderkimberly and this lovely woman behind us - suddenly shrink? 3) If so... did my kids feel like giants? 4) Did they freak out and get crazy with power? 5) How did I not notice? 6) Did somebody then wave that #MenInBlack wand to erase my memory but forget about possible photographic evidence of this phenomenon? 7) If so... are the super-secret agents who guard our belief in such fragile constructs as physics and linear time getting sloppy? 8) Or are those super-secret agents just getting lazy? 9) If so... how would it be possible to enforce quality control over a secret process we’re all supposed to just trust in, but have no oversight over, and where there’s no path to recourse in the event of negligence or just plain error? 10) Why is my brain like this? 11) Why did we go to the farmers market in the rain with four children? So, so many questions...

12,568 Likes | 5 days ago | 275

When the queen smiles upon you... shut up and be grateful. 👸

22,217 Likes | 5 days ago | 166

If I got pulled around the #farmersmarket in a wagon... I’d be happy about it. All I’m sayin’. #parenthood ❤️

3,295 Likes | 7 days ago | 64

#FightTraining Fridays... Almost lost my footing on that last #spinninghookkick 😳... but as my grandfather used to say, “The mark of a good craftsman is how well they cover their mistakes.” Might’ve just been something he pulled out of his ass right after fucking something up... but I’ll take it to the bank. Getting better every session. Project updates coming soon 👊#muythai #thaiboxing @therealjohnnyhunt

13,492 Likes | 9 days ago | 182

Who wore it better? @vanderkimberly #marriage 🥳

16,379 Likes | 11 days ago | 428

I have no idea where she gets it. 🙀

8,636 Likes | 11 days ago | 76

They both dress themselves. #siblings

41,230 Likes | 12 days ago | 412

There’s so much social media pressure these days on mothers (and women in general) to be perfect. And it’s nonsense. No human is perfect, let alone one with a job as tricky and fluid as motherhood. I’d like to honor and appreciate @vanderkimberly for being something better than perfect: For being real. There are few things more panic-inducing than the idea you may have done something wrong as a parent, but she remains blisteringly honest and determinedly authentic, even when it’s inconvenient or downright complicated. Her willingness to embrace the truth - and dare give voice to how she understands it at the time - is what makes her my my hero. That, and the fact that she grew my five favorite people inside of her, birthed them, fed them, and continues to raise and love and nurture them EVERY DAY - including the one who woke up vomiting this morning 😍 #HappyMothersDay baby. And to all the other moms out there doing their best... let’s toast to recognizing this perfection game for the scam that it is. 🥂

17,575 Likes | 13 days ago | 145

I’ll never truly appreciate the myriad things my Mom did for me that dominated her day-to-day: All the sleepless nights, the lunches, the planning, the rides, the laundry, the dirty dishes, the dinners. But what I do deeply appreciate - to this day - is that when I told her (at fifteen years old) I wanted try acting professionally in New York... she saw me. She saw me for who I was, and what I had to offer. And despite knowing how insanely minuscule the odds of success can be in this business... She saw past that and saw ME. And she believed in me. Cheers to all those Moms who endeavor to see their kids for what they truly are... and choose to support them - logic and odds be damned. #HappyMothersDay Mom. I love you.

16,972 Likes | 13 days ago | 84

A little Dad date with my dude before #mothersday 💙

7,460 Likes | 13 days ago | 84

This is how I walk when I’m feeling my shoe game 🏆

13,930 Likes | 16 days ago | 350

Was thinking a lot about how often we subjugate ourselves without even being aware. Whose #approval are we trying to win? Had the revelation that when we desire approval from somebody, we start playing by their rules... we give priority to their values... and we accept their ceiling as our own limitation. Finding your voice means relaxing into your own #power, not giving a sh*t about who’s impressed and who’s not, and daring to live the truth that resonates with you. It’s a lifelong process, to be sure... And while it’s always important to learn from one another, and to afford others their human dignity... the more we make false #idols out of others - our parents, teachers, our boss, our loved ones, our followers, society - the less likely we are to realize that specific piece of the human puzzle that is ours to reveal.

21,771 Likes | 18 days ago | 340

Kids have your back. Don’t get me wrong - they challenge and exhaust you in ways that seem tailor-made to press your most carefully concealed buttons with surgical precision... but they’re also rooting for you. And supporting you in ways I’m convinced we’ll never be able to quantify. A friend of mine’s father once told him: “Babies come with a bundle of bread under each arm” (meaning they bring their own prosperity), and I can attest to that... but I feel like it goes even deeper. For all the care, love, protection and hard work you put into their well-being, it’s like they’re secretly working on you in some mystical fashion, injecting emotional and spiritual energy where you need it most. Maybe it’s all in their own self-interest, since they’re helplessly dependent on you for a number of years... but I’ll take it. In fact, I think we need it. #MondayMusings

99,754 Likes | 21 days ago | 2,607

So... here’s my working theory: Dads, date your daughters. Drive responsibly, put down your phone, invest in everything they have to say and treat them like they’re the most valuable human in the room, if not the world. And then (theoretically), once they start dating for real, they’ll have a bar... and anyone who doesn’t meet that bar, you won’t have to tell them - they’ll make that call for themselves. #DateNight #SetTheBarHigh * (I’ll let you know in about ten or fifteen years if this actually works 👍🤞)

6,852 Likes | 21 days ago | 47

Home Office invasion ❤️

10,051 Likes | 22 days ago | 96

The most star-struck moment I’ve ever had came courtesy of #petermayhew when I was at my most cynical. I was in my early 20’s, burnt out and over-worked, accepting some award (kids choice? I can’t remember), and OVER IT - over fame, attention, success, responsibility - all of it. As I snuck in through the back entrance (avoiding the red carpet like an ungrateful brat) who should walk past me, but #CHEWBACCA... I froze. Suddenly, I was six years old again. I felt that tingling in my gut, somewhere between excited and afraid, and prayed he wouldn’t look at me because I knew I wouldn’t know what to do, let alone say... And it snapped me right out of my stupid funk. In that one instant, I remembered what it was to be a fan, to believe in a character with all my heart, and how important that relationship can feel. Such was the magic of what Peter Mahew created. It likely wasn’t even him beneath all that yak fur that day... and yet it was. RIP Chewie. Thanks for making this little boy happy.

7,057 Likes | 22 days ago | 57

#tbt Exactly one year ago today, after a brutal day on @poseonfx w/ @evanpeters. I left set emotionally and physically exhausted. And glad it was over. AND giddy and proud and reminded of how much I love doing this. Not sure what that says about me... but clearly, acting is not an occupation for the sane. #ActingIsNotForTheSane #BeYourBestCrazy

31,086 Likes | 24 days ago | 595

Just giving up? Or just not giving a f*ck? #Dadwear #IHaveDaughters

24,728 Likes | 24 days ago | 280

Just dropped this one off at school today for the first time... last week she was asking me for a date every single morning. This week, she’s unavailable. It’s insane how much life just moves past you while you’re busy trying to figure other, “important” things...

28,902 Likes | 26 days ago | 296

When your #brunch squad still requires a group trip to the potty every time one of them has to go... pick a fancy spot with a super fancy restroom. 👍#parentingstrategies #protip

16,069 Likes | 27 days ago | 139

“Daddy, I’m SO boring...” Means it’s time for an activity. And a grammar lesson. #saturdays #parenthood

Rolling with this many kids means never having to worry about getting blamed if you happen to break a little wind. #MondayMusings

18,282 Likes | 33 days ago | 139

Wishing you and your family a very happy #Easter ☮️ 🐣

59,538 Likes | 35 days ago | 1,188

Sometimes we fight. We bicker. We go to bed angry, usually over stupid stuff that doesn’t really matter but somehow does in the moment. We don’t post all that on IG because, well... we like being married 😘 But the one thing that seems pretty clear so far is that relationships are not so much about who you are - or who you were when you met - but how you evolve. And, as @vanderkimberly so astutely pointed out to me yesterday, it’s important to afford your partner room to change. To not define them by their past actions, or tendencies, or even current limitations, because that puts them in a box which may not allow space for a better, more fully realized version of themselves to take root. It’s tricky, of course, because as humans we learn by grouping and categorizing - that’s just brain science. But pairing up with another flawed human (myself excluded, obviously- I’m perfect 🤫) means, in no small way, to transcend science. To love, care, and evolve beyond logic. And to allow your partner to do the same. And to always put the toilet seat down - dudes, you don’t want to forget that one. 👍#ItsaJourneyNotaDestination #GoodFriday everybody.

Happy birthday to my little sister! From the moment she was born, a bright, shining beacon of sweetness, optimism and joy. The kindest person I’ve ever known. Seriously... she’s so genuinely nice that she makes me look like a**hole ❤️

22,189 Likes | 42 days ago | 205

When the answer is “yes” before you hear the question 💜

11,818 Likes | 43 days ago | 371

#tbt My now 8 year-old in the set of one of my shows... can’t remember which one 🤔 Truth is, I’ve had as many cancelled shows as I have kids. And that’s not even counting the failed pilots before that. Felt like a roller coaster at the time, but now I’ve now come to recognize it as the universe having given me a master class in writing and show running. If any of those shows had run as long as they should/could have, I wouldn’t be nearly as prepared for what I’m doing right now. So, in honor of #donttrustthebitchinapt23, let’s raise an afternoon martini to the roads best not taken (even if you were helplessly riding shotgun and totally second-guessing the route at the time).😌

30,943 Likes | 44 days ago | 174

Not going to lie, two nights of uninterrupted sleep was nice. Realllllly nice. But this is better ❤️ #parenthood

20,210 Likes | 44 days ago | 243

Nothing awkward about this photo - just so you know. This is a very natural sitting position for young human children indigenous to the suburbs of the northeastern region of the United States. They all sit, facing the same direction, in complimentary apparel, legs around each other as if riding an imaginary horse, as protection against the cold winters when the baseboard heater isn’t cutting it. #nationalsiblingday #nationalsiblingsday

Six hour flight? Or six-hour work vacation? Depends on what airline. And what you do. And how many kids you have.

13,162 Likes | 46 days ago | 121

You can be on #springbreak... or you can BE spring break 😍 #SpiritAnimal

5,357 Likes | 49 days ago | 147

So... here’s a little peek at what I’ve been up to in secret: training for a project I’m creating and haven’t even formally pitched, yet. But I’ve always believed - scratch that - known... that putting energy into what you want generates more energy in that direction. Not that I’ll be busting out any 360 roundhouse kicks in my pitch meetings (that’d be a weird move for a writer/show runner 🤓)... but I’ll know, deep down... that I could. Kicks via @therealjohnnyhunt Camera work (& “wow”) via @jamar_neighbors who paused his gladiator workout to indulge my vanity. #muythai #360roundhousekick

10,854 Likes | 51 days ago | 82

Don’t fear change.

25,087 Likes | 53 days ago | 312

I woke up exhausted today (and multiple times throughout the night - as per usual😍)... I thought saying “yes” to my daughters request for a date would energize me. It didn’t. Was fun... warmed my heart, but I’m still beat. I’ve said no to all the easy paths offered this year, which means creating, writing, pitching, strategizing, training for multiple projects. Plus five kids and an amazing wife. And I love it. I’m insanely lucky, and you can understand why I want to be all things to all people... But I’m coming to grips with the reality that you can’t. Nobody can. So I’m going to try to give myself permission to just show up. To offer the best of what I’m able to muster to whoever is in front of me, and trust that it will be enough. And that the rest of the world will keep spinning without my worrying about it. #MondayMusings

12,051 Likes | 54 days ago | 235

For the record, I am totally down with #dandelions in my yard. Mowing lawns for money as a kid in Connecticut, it was all about preventing those little yellow flowers from blaspheming that perfectly homogeneous green carpet out front. Now... f*ck it. Bring ‘em on. Why hate on a few pops of color? It’s funny the assumptions you adopt without examination... and the odd little rush you get when you throw out something you’d simply taken for granted as true for most of your life. What have you come to see differently as you settled into #adulthood?

26,243 Likes | 55 days ago | 506

My spirit animal 🦄 #TheGreatestShowman

14,192 Likes | 56 days ago | 110

Who knew that one afternoon 18 years ago spent goofing off with @biggsjason and @thatkevinsmith would have lead to another afternoon spent laughing and riffing and playing our idiot selves to the hilt? Proof once again that nobody really knows anything in this business (least of all me)... which is why it’s still populated by fun, crazy people. #jayandsilentbobreboot

38,214 Likes | 57 days ago | 489

#tbt Came across this pic today. If I’m being completely honest... I have no idea which kid this is. But reasonably sure it’s mine 👍😎

7,627 Likes | 58 days ago | 100

Pitch for my next project dialed in and mapped out neatly on the whiteboard... Maybe now I can find time to get a haircut.

4,538 Likes | 61 days ago | 95

#truth 🔈

37,718 Likes | 62 days ago | 389

Happy birthday to the queen. Funny... when she was born, it felt like she was the least in her body of any of our kids. A week later, she was the most present person I know. Now, she presides over our home with razor-sharp intelligence, sparkle, and an authority matched only by her deep sensitivity. She heals and delights and leaves me in awe every single day. Can’t believe I get to know you, and as much as I want to bottle up every second I spend with you, I can’t wait to see what’s next. Long live the queen!

44,844 Likes | 63 days ago | 511

I knew I was in love pretty much immediately - at least to the extent I was capable of knowing. I was certain I wanted to have kids with her. But what I couldn’t have seen back then (but wish I could give myself credit for having forecasted), was how much she’d grow. How much she’d challenge herself, and deepen, and evolve. How much she would discover about herself, her gifts, her hang-ups, her passions, and just how much more in love with her I’d become with each new revelation. Happy birthday @vanderkimberly... you inspire me and everyone you know. Thanks for never settling for anything less than your (or my) best. ❤️

55,984 Likes | 67 days ago | 518

We get to choose how we react to the world. We get to choose how we respond to what life throws at us. And it’s not about faith, or choosing the “right” path, or being moral, or even good. Those are all nice ideas that can help light the way, but ultimately... what truly serves us? What nourishes our soul? Aligns with our heart’s desire? What affords us true clarity and creates space for lasting happiness? There are so many easy ways to spark outrage, self-righteousness and fear, and all that has its place, I suppose... but we all have the power to make our own choice. #MondayMusings Sending love to New Zealand and everyone around the world trying to find the light today 💜

2,286 Likes | 71 days ago | 61

Even losing a decathlon to a high school kid is a good time when you’re with @kevinhart4real. @whatthefit on the @LOLNetwork channel on @YouTube. #whatthefit link in bio

35,339 Likes | 72 days ago | 398

❤️ Seven years ago today, this little guy jumped out - feet first - and cracked me wide open. I’d never felt such peace, such love for my fellow human. I was convinced if they could bottle up that feeling... there’d be no more war - it just couldn’t exist in that energy field. Since then, it’s been a joy to witness the reveal of this strong, empathetic, deep little thinker. His determination, sensitivity, and wild sense of humor make me a better human on the daily. I’d like to say I’m raising him, but really... I feel like he’s raising me.

16,979 Likes | 73 days ago | 684

Every once in a while, Twitter is still fun.

16,599 Likes | 74 days ago | 161

It’s #Monday. Get yours 😎

2,565 Likes | 77 days ago | 77

Couldn’t have said it better as myself... #Repost @brandondermer ・・・ without women, none of us would be here ✊ 👩 #internationalwomensday

46,615 Likes | 77 days ago | 1,789

42 years old today. Woke up at 4am to our son throwing up... in our bed. Not quite over the flu, yet, myself. Doubling down on myself as a writer & creator, which is both thrilling and terrifying, and I don’t remember the last time I slept through the night. 21 years ago today, The WB TV network got me a limo for the night in #NYC as a present... My college friends all came out and we went to all the “cool” clubs. It was the first time they saw me get recognized, and we partied past 4am. I woke up happier today 😍.

25,449 Likes | 79 days ago | 417

Last week I felt paralyzed by the desire to do everything perfectly. This week I’m paralyzed by the #flu. At least my obsession with perfection isn’t contagious... * or is it? 🤔 #FeverThoughts

15,347 Likes | 84 days ago | 136

Stole my hat, and 97.5% likely to get away with it 🥰

17,402 Likes | 85 days ago | 196

#tbt One of my first headshots. Somebody saw this on a proof sheet and said: “Yes! Found it! Let’s blow up THAT one.” And I must’ve agreed 😬 I don’t believe this one yielded a single job...

One of the most cringeworthy phrases I hear, little dude... is, “Be a man.” Especially when it’s said to young boys, because the message is often: “Be tough. Don’t cry. Suck it up. Act like nothing effects you.” To me... that’s just empty posturing. Being a real man means being strong enough to be empathetic. To be sensitive. To be caring, kind, and confident enough to appreciate and nurture your feminine side. If you start with that as a base, all that other stereotypically “manly” behavior (none of which is exclusive to males, btw) might just accomplish some good. But in the meantime... it’s okay to be a boy. ❤️

8,857 Likes | 88 days ago | 119

Thank you @americanair for the huge travel assist. #WhenInDoubtBringTheWagon

47,323 Likes | 90 days ago | 660

So... turns out we’re cruise people. Want to thank everybody on board the @carnival Horizon for leaving us with a treasure trove of “wow” moments. From the food to the service, to the waterslides, to the food, to the entertainment... to the food. We needed this more than we realized. This was our first cruise... it will not be our last. #ChooseFun #carnival #carnivalpartner

39,493 Likes | 93 days ago | 761

If you’ve ever flirted with the idea of going on a cruise, I have one word of advice: Do it. Okay, that’s technically two words, but you should totally go. Aha! I could have just said: “Go.” That would have been one word. But seriously... go for it. It’s fun. And delicious. #choosefun @carnival #carnivalpartner #Carnival (adventures in my stories)

12,783 Likes | 97 days ago | 160

Dad’s still got it 👍

20,494 Likes | 98 days ago | 273

They share a birthday ❤️ It’s amazing how #grandparents can have completely different relationships with your kids than they did with you. Even if they were really good parents... there’s something they’ve figured out the second time around that you just can’t fake. Maybe it’s the part-time nature of the gig, maybe it’s experience, maybe it’s the wisdom that comes with age. Whatever it is... I’m grateful for it.

31,872 Likes | 99 days ago | 211

My funny #Valentines ❤️ #HappyValentinesDay everybody 🥰

11,196 Likes | 102 days ago | 109

What if all the constructs and narratives we’ve come to accept as important - where we live, what we do, what we make, to whom we belong, what we win, who we are - what if the only reason all of that existed... was to serve as the architecture within which we get to try our hand at the much more important (and much more rewarding) task of establishing moments of meaningful connection with one other? What if that was actually all that mattered? #MondayMusings

#tbt First magazine photo shoot. I’d used all my season one #DawsonsCreek money to pay off my first two years of college loans and was sleeping on Kevin Williamson’s couch at the time, so my publicist offered his own house for this @people shoot. You ever feel good vibes in a place? 13 years (and a lot of life) later, I rented a house mostly because it reminded me of that one, only smaller. A month after I’d moved in, I came to find out it was the EXACT SAME house... I’d just thought it was smaller because, back when I’d done the photo shoot, my previous residence had been a shared dorm room - so I’d remembered it as huge. I met my wife while I lived there... brought home a baby there... then when we were pregnant with #2 and had to move to a bigger place, I told a friend about it, and she moved in. I’ve since met three other people who’ve lived there, and they all found love, success, babies, or all the above there. Some spots are just kind of magical... and I’m telling you - there’s at least one such place in #LosAngeles

31,538 Likes | 108 days ago | 846

Last-second flight to see somebody I love because... well, her prognosis wasn’t good. Isn’t hopeful. At least according to the doctors. But I guess “good” is really what we choose to make of it all, though, right? Otherwise, we’re just victims of circumstance, dependent on a diagnosis, or some other external “reality” for peace of mind, whereas the truth -the real truth- is that peace of mind is a state of mind... and can come at any time. It’s ultimately our choice, isn’t it? And then, of course... there’s the emotional roller coaster... which is also valid and real, and sometimes we just have to let that movie play out, and acknowledge those feelings so that our body doesn’t have to hold onto them. And somewhere, in the middle of all that, looking for the balance... is us. Life is a crazy thing to get to experience... thank god we weren’t designed to go through it alone.

22,238 Likes | 112 days ago | 146

#Writing is equal parts being the one on the right... and feeling like the one on the left.

4,225 Likes | 112 days ago | 48

Almost exactly twelve years ago, in the post-Super Bowl episode of @crimmindscbs, I killed @jaimeraynewman4real. Now, she’s nominated for an Oscar for producing a short film her husband wrote & directed! The moral of this story: It pays to know me (no matter what I pretend to do to you on screen 🤗) Psyched for you guys! And well-deserved... #Repost @guy_nattiv ・・・ SKIN. For your consideration.

36,845 Likes | 116 days ago | 372

When a toddler wants something unreasonable and throws a tantrum... sometimes the key is to make sure they feel heard. Once they calm down, you can talk about better ways to go about getting what they want. Maybe even strike a compromise. What’s not productive... is mocking them for “caving.” #MondayMusings

29,793 Likes | 118 days ago | 257

Wishing you all such a great weekend you don’t even realize how far down your shirt has come unbuttoned #AndYouDontCare 😎 #BirthdayGirl

45,554 Likes | 119 days ago | 626

5 years old today... my wild card who warms my heart just by existing. Always surprising, always mysterious, always magical. I don’t have favorites... but let’s just say all this one has ever had to say to get me to drop everything for her is “Daddy... I’m here.”

32,967 Likes | 120 days ago | 205

#tbt Five years ago today... when my oldest daughter (then 3) said, “Mommy, you’re going to have the baby tomorrow.”.........

20,476 Likes | 121 days ago | 136

Delayed gratification may be a sign of maturity... but it might classify as torture for a 2 and a 4 year-old 💔#NotMyFault #TheyllBringOurFoodAsSoonAsItsReady

8,128 Likes | 124 days ago | 102

Some of the best lessons of my young life I learned playing football. The rest I learned doing theatre. Yeah... I was that kid. #StillAm #nflplayoffs

17,282 Likes | 127 days ago | 345

How my L.A. kids see #rain is how I want to see life...

16,943 Likes | 129 days ago | 601

Q: What are you supposed to get somebody for your #20thAnniversary? #Repost @espn ・・・ On This Date: In 1999's "Varsity Blues," Jonathon "Mox" Moxon and West Canaan High football won their final game of the season after coach Bud Kilmer lost control of the team.

30,253 Likes | 129 days ago | 999

#10yearchallenge

66,345 Likes | 130 days ago | 553

You can navigate life with your head or your heart. One of them can plan, calculate, and see several steps ahead. The other tends to be nearsighted... but might just make you happy wherever you’re at. Happy navigation everybody...😘 #MondayMusings

69,422 Likes | 134 days ago | 859

#tbt My head is very much back in the game... but my heart is still relishing last week.

What really matters? I’ve come to realize I don’t have the time or bandwidth for stuff that doesn’t. So I’m starting simple. Let’s be a little crazy... and let’s be authentic. And let’s let the rest take care of itself. #Happy2019 people ❤️

23,185 Likes | 144 days ago | 135

2018 was a crazy year... saw my first ever #GoldenGlobe nom for a show I was in (#posefx), started creating 3 shows (which doesn’t translate so well to the Gram - you’ll see more when I can announce), and got to meet the magical little Gwendolyn ❤️ Ending the year grateful and excited 🙏🏻 #TopNine. #HappyNewYear everybody. Blessings and abundance to you all!

11,879 Likes | 144 days ago | 77

Happy trails, 2018... (And also to our elf June who got special permission from Santa to stay with us until the New Year.)

15,317 Likes | 144 days ago | 114

If you sneak away for some alone time and you don’t take an obligatory selfie... did it really happen?

9,672 Likes | 145 days ago | 37

Jumping into 2019 like...

26,756 Likes | 146 days ago | 367

Sometimes all it takes to make a kid happy is attention. Sometimes it’s a lot trickier, so I’m grateful for today 🙌

16,681 Likes | 148 days ago | 156

Count ‘em...

28,175 Likes | 148 days ago | 178

My catalogue shot if I was selling #RV’s. Or coffee mugs. Or #parenthood.

8,932 Likes | 149 days ago | 97

You cannot stop the #christmascheer at the #RV rental facility, you can only hope to contain it.

8,424 Likes | 151 days ago | 52

... And to all a good night ❤️ *(and if you’ve ever denied a child the use of a bathroom... all I’ll say is I hope Santa was looking the other way. There’s always 2019 🤫🤗🎅)

If you played my mom on TV for six years... you can bring my kids cookies before lunch and get away with it. #AsLongAsYouHideSomeForMe #DawsonsCreek

13,321 Likes | 157 days ago | 1,265

I’ve tried to ban glitter from my house. But I’m powerless. Can’t hold back the tide. Time to go national. Anybody with me? #BanGlitter #GlitterBan #NotEvenKidding

4,900 Likes | 158 days ago | 34

It’s official... running into @jamar_neighbors confirms that I train at the coolest fight gym in town. Which is super duper important. 🤩

46,291 Likes | 159 days ago | 1,025

Sniffed out my secret junk food stash like a truffle pig. Balanced on the handle of the step stool like a cat. And when caught in the act, said: “Daddy... no see me,” like a Jedi. Some kids you #parent... some just figure it the f*ck out while you’re not looking.

22,781 Likes | 161 days ago | 235

We’re going to need a bigger wagon. 🎄

24,469 Likes | 162 days ago | 153

I just work here. ❤️

12,866 Likes | 164 days ago | 90

Hey, here’s a #Firstworld #ParentingHack for you: Turn your dining room into an art/meditation room! First step: Have a dining room. Second step: Eat your meals in your kitchen. Third step: Be really good friends w/ design genius @erinfetherston - like a really good friends - and do nice stuff for her to the point where she decides to transform the messiest disaster of a room in your house as a present, on a budget ❤️. Maybe she does it out of the goodness of her heart, maybe she does it because the room offends her sensibilities and she’s sick of dealing with the aesthetic when she visits. Doesn’t matter - point is, you have a room your kids love that makes your wife happy 😊 (Dreamcatcher by @vanderkimberly, Floating shelf built by me - “#DIY Saga” chronicled in my saved stories - if you check the tags, the rest of it is actually not too stupid expensive). Pics by @mollyktadams #interiors #homedecor

9,238 Likes | 167 days ago | 87

Championship-level #soccer parenting 😎. This is why we practice all season long🏆 #IHaveToGoToTheBathroomAgain

83,609 Likes | 168 days ago | 1,172

Only one kid tried to defect while we attempted this pic... Not bad. Swipe ⬅️ through carousel for the process. 🏃‍♀️ #christmastree #familypic

1,408 Likes | 169 days ago | 9

The category is: Award Season! Huge congrats to @theebillyporter and the entire @poseonfx cast on the #HFPA #goldenglobes2018 nominations for Best Actor and Best Drama Series. 💃🏾 Billy’s embodiment of Pray Tell is both soaring and grounded, and sincere and f*cking fabulous. I actually told a reporter that if Billy didn’t get nominated, I quit. So... doubly grateful this morning 🥴 #Repost @poseonfx ・・・ Children, it's time to celebrate. Sending congrats to @theebillyporter and the entire cast and crew of #PoseFX for their #GoldenGlobes nominations. 🙌 💜 Can't wait for season two.

10,460 Likes | 171 days ago | 349

I’ve heard people ask: “How the hell am I supposed to explain #transgender to my kid?” Maybe it helps to let them stay up past their bedtime. Maybe it helps to have your secret junk food box on the counter. Or maybe kids are just smarter than we think. This is what happened when we had “the talk” about my #posefx cast with our just-turned eight year-old. 😯#WhileTheyRifledThroughMySecretJunkFoodBoxIUsuallyKeepHidden

6,489 Likes | 173 days ago | 48

Suicide prevention hotline. Community. Education and advocacy. These are what @trevorproject offer young #LGBTQ youth, and it was my honor to get to join @mrrpmurphy and my @poseonfx cast in all their fabulousness to accept an honor at their gala tonight. To any kids struggling with their identity or self-worth in a toxic environment, know that there are people out there who care about you, who want you to find your authentic self, and who will celebrate what makes you different. Be you. You’re worthy of love and compassion no matter how many expectations you defy. 🌈 #trevorproject #posefx

22,320 Likes | 176 days ago | 141

If nothing else, I’m an entirely adequate mode of transportation.

24,383 Likes | 178 days ago | 142

I don’t think I’ll ever wind up thinking, “You know, I wish I’d taken fewer afternoons off to have a date with my kid.” I might, however, wind up wondering why I went so long between haircuts, though... ALSO - today is #GivingTuesday - a chance to give back to all the service members (and their families) who sacrifice every day of the year to make moments like this possible. Check out @theuso for more info.

62,338 Likes | 181 days ago | 691

Going to use this as our Christmas picture too, so do me a favor and forget I posted it by next month. Cool?👌Hope you all had a #HappyThanksgiving 🦃

11,810 Likes | 183 days ago | 224

Quick #Thanksgiving PSA: If you have an actor in the family, and they show up to your gathering with a new look, and you say: “So, is this for a role?” You may not mean it as shade... but it’s never a compliment. #TheMoreYouKnow 👍#HappyThanksgiving everybody!

15,435 Likes | 184 days ago | 110

Good light on the @metrolosangeles platform. And no traffic. And no tailpipe exhaust. But really good light 👍

18,451 Likes | 185 days ago | 213

You can’t please all the people all the time...

10,995 Likes | 187 days ago | 385

Guys... I gotta’ to come clean. I’ve been on a cleanse. #DadJoke I hate cleanses... but this one has been okay. 9 days. Eat till you’re full, the menu just narrows to stuff your liver can process easily. Mustache optional, but highly recommended (by me). Last day is just juice. And I’m glad I did it. If nothing else, it got me recognizing how much I overlook in life in anticipation of the food I’m craving. Plus, I figure, my liver does so much for me... why not do a little something for it? Not gonna lie, really looking forward to a burger which is not on the recommended menu. (Grass-fed of course... but on a bun loaded with gluten because life’s too short for gluten-free hamburger buns 🥳). If you’re curious, you can follow @medicalmedium on the gram & see if what he’s sharing resonates with you. (Btw, not getting paid for this, just sharing 😘)

8,208 Likes | 188 days ago | 62

#WilliamGoldman passed away yesterday... the man who wrote #ButchCassidyAndTheSundanceKid, #ThePrincessBride, and #AllThePresidentsMen among many many others. He also wrote a great book on screenwriting I would recommend to any writer. I’m not big on books about writing... but his is aptly titled: “Adventures in the Screen Trade” and it reads like that - it’s a personal account (and at times blisteringly honest self-assessment) full of insight and perspective from a man who wrote more than a few masterpieces. Thanks for the work and the inspiration, Mr. Goldman 🙏🏻

24,488 Likes | 190 days ago | 566

Some days you wonder if you’re failing as a parent... and some days you realize that whatever your shortcomings, your kids might just come out okay anyway. 🥰 #Repost @vanderkimberly ・・・ Good morning 🌞

You can’t be an artist without soldiers to protect you... so want to say thank you to all the veterans and their families for the sacrifices that have created space for us storytellers and freaks and... well, for all of us. Starting with my grandfather. Thank you! #veteransday And when we say #neverforget, let’s hold up our end of the bargain and not forget - not forget about care for our veterans when they get home - physical, mental, spiritual. After they’ve served so bravely, it’s our duty to give these men and women everything they need to get healthy, and get whole.

13,330 Likes | 194 days ago | 144

@vanderkimberly is pairing those in need with those who want to help. Reach out if you’re one of the two. Also, Q: If your wife is a really good person... do you get credit for it? #Repost @vanderkimberly ・・・ ATTN LA: if you know of anybody displaced by the fire and have immediate needs that need to be met, please contact me so that I can connect them to a family ready and able to help! Spread this message far and wide to get those the help they need! 🙏

31,736 Likes | 195 days ago | 141

Feeling profoundly grateful for a quiet evening at home tonight, and for all the #firefighters and first responders putting their lives on the line just a few miles away. Thank you to you and your families for keeping us safe.

10,620 Likes | 195 days ago | 79

Happy Birthday to my spirit animal and musical stuntman @diplo. It’s rare when geniuses have a sense of humor about themselves... I admire your work ethic and drive and how you’re always looking out for the next thing. And your craziness. Thanks for making me proud every time my kids call me “Fake Diplo Daddy.” ✌️Have an amazing birthday, Wes.

54,966 Likes | 197 days ago | 584

Anybody you’ve ever been angry with was once this size... Never hurts to remember that ☮️

22,035 Likes | 199 days ago | 179

Our democracy ain’t perfect... but neither are we. So it works. #vote

2,962 Likes | 199 days ago | 39

Here’s some good news: There are 24+ anti-corruption measures on ballots in 11 states today. @Representus members don’t endorse parties or candidates, they just work across party lines to put anti-corruption initiatives on the ballot. #Vote to #UnrigTheSystem. Link in my bio. If you live in #Arizona #Colorado #Maryland #Massachusetts #Michigan #Missouri #Nevada #NewMexico #Utah #NorthDakota #SouthDakota #NewYork

8,351 Likes | 200 days ago | 69

Writing my next project while at a car wash and just realized I look like the Unabomber; Hollywood edition. I think this election is getting to all of us... Rock your #vote tomorrow, y’all!

14,280 Likes | 201 days ago | 146

“Daddy, if you don’t say it I will do it... but if you say it, I will never do it. Okay?” #4yearsold ❤️🦄

54,006 Likes | 204 days ago | 411

As long as I keep having kids... I can keep dressing up on #Halloween, right?

20,367 Likes | 204 days ago | 105

Baby dinosaur for #Halloween? As you wish...

7,702 Likes | 204 days ago | 71

Day after Halloween feeling like...

7,693 Likes | 206 days ago | 305

The president has said he will bring back family separation. He thinks it’s a winning issue for his party. Whether or not he’s right... is up to you. #vote #SilencedVoices @supportkind

15,565 Likes | 207 days ago | 262

Most people are good. I’m going to come out and say it. I woke up this morning depressed over some of the awful, inexcusable, horribly dark actions of a few people - on line, at microphones, in communities... and it made me scared. And anxious. And it weighed on me. It wasn’t until I forced myself to do a little Qi Gong & meditation (I’m learning for a new project - more on all that later)... that I suddenly remembered that I’d walked through an insanely dense halftime crowd amongst way too many drunk football fans on Sunday with a living extension of my heart on my shoulders - while wearing the visiting team’s hat... and everyone was cool. They were nice. It was a tough grind just to move a few feet, but everybody kept their calm, and even helped. I share this little bit of goodness because it’s easy to let the bad drown out everything else these days... and while it’s human nature to report on the bad and try to fix it, I feel like maybe recognizing what’s right can put us on a little better footing to address what’s not.

22,825 Likes | 207 days ago | 120

Love is a loop ❤️ Sometimes it comes easy... sometimes you’ve got to fight through the noise for it. But it’s never not worth it.

5,707 Likes | 208 days ago | 52

Couldn’t have said this better so I’ll amplify. #Repost @joshbrolin ・・・ Something happens when you say the names and ages aloud. Albeit, it is Sunday, and we mostly sit in our homes feeling relatively safe, but with a new creeping pang in our realities that someone may be coming just around the corner to end our lives or our the lives of the ones most dear to us. That reality is increasing, not decreasing. The level of violence isn’t a conspiracy and, its fact of increase doesn’t randomly exist. We know something is foundationally wrong. We are so self-absorbed, so self righteous that we have started to forget what it means to be of service to others, and how much that feeds our sense of self. We don’t need to take our kids to see the most desperate situations to wake them up. All we need is to demand of ourselves to be of service to someone for something every single day just for the sheer pleasure of anything positive it might bring them. #rip #thepowerofexample

13,274 Likes | 208 days ago | 156

The right company can turn even a heartbreaker of a defeat into a heartwarming day #Rams #Packers

Here’s an anti-bullying proposition: Give people in this country the freedom to define themselves as what they are... to identify as what they know deep in their hearts to be. The president’s efforts to take away #transgender as a definition is a wedge issue deliberately brought out to drive people who don’t understand it to the polls to vote for his party. It’s calculated fear tactics... and the victims are a group of human beings who are already more likely to be murdered than any other demographic. Think about that. Think about that really hard if your reaction is: “It’s not that big a deal,” or if you’ve been told this is simply making sense of an overly PC culture. You may not get trans... you might think it’s strange if you haven’t been exposed to it... but you cannot deny that it IS. I happen to have just worked with a number of trans people who were strong, thoughtful, empathetic, talented and certainly worthy of kindness, consideration and human dignity... but for those who may not have had the benefit of my experience, ask yourself this: Do we want to live in a country that is free? Or one in which we let the government place limits on what we’re allowed to say we are? Vote however you need to... I just don’t like bullies, and when I woke up to see friends of mine marginalized and further endangered because the calculation was made that doing so would benefit one party in a mid-term... I had to offer up a little perspective. 🌈

12,066 Likes | 215 days ago | 56

It isn’t whether you win or lose... it’s who came to watch your game. ☯️💜

14,524 Likes | 215 days ago | 79

Immensely displeased a lady of her nobility was seated last row at #Wimbledon? Or 9am #soccer game?

53,633 Likes | 218 days ago | 342

#tbt First baby... 8 years ago. Is it bad that if I didn’t recognize where we lived at the time I wouldn’t be able to tell which baby? 😬 Also worth noting... The Instagram algorithm apparently disapproved of my social media hiatus... If you enjoy my posts, you may want to turn in notifications. If you don’t enjoy them, then perhaps you should ask yourself why you’ve read this far into my caption? 🤔😽

23,535 Likes | 220 days ago | 460

Hey, real quick - do this hat and this chicken make me cool?

17,377 Likes | 220 days ago | 263

It’s important to align oneself with nature. *(and by “nature”... I’m totally counting a petting zoo at a pop-up Halloween fair in the middle of Los Angeles 👍) #TakeYourVictoriesWhereYouCanGetEm #mrbonespumpkinpatch

19,604 Likes | 221 days ago | 75

Take your victories where you can get ‘em. #parenthood

14,108 Likes | 222 days ago | 72

Witnessing the launch of a grand seafaring vessel? Or watching 6 year-olds playing #soccer?

21,084 Likes | 224 days ago | 204

@vanderkimberly IG LIVE at 2pm PST on her feed... Discussed all things baby sleep-related w/ baby sleep expert @sleepsweetsleepdeep Tag a friend who needs this & go to wifey’s page to ask questions. Baby sleep is something we could have gotten a lot better at a lot sooner than we did. Save yourselves!! 😵 ❤️

9,125 Likes | 224 days ago | 63

Been writing. Laser-focused and loving it. Channeling some really crazy stuff, and feeling like energy might be a zero-sum game... which means more writing and fewer moody selfies of me writing. #5secondtimer

56,973 Likes | 230 days ago | 502

Fight for what you feel is right... but don’t forget to focus your lens on what makes you happy.

11,309 Likes | 240 days ago | 140

Taking a break from social media for a bit... Sometimes finding your balance requires losing it, and as a kid who grew up with a rotary phone, I’d like to pick the direction in which I lose it first. Look forward to reconnecting with you all after I explore the validity of #DunbarsNumber

15,587 Likes | 241 days ago | 69

Horse ranch chic 🎂

36,515 Likes | 242 days ago | 413

Eight years old today... she climbs trees, picks out her own clothes, catches lizards, frogs & snails, makes intricate fairy houses, doesn’t take no for an answer (even when you tell her no is your final answer), nurtures and loves her siblings, knows jui jitsu, sings, dances, and has legit beaten me at chess. If I wasn’t her father, I’d want to be her best friend. Happy birthday, kid. Couldn’t be happier to know you ❤️

18,215 Likes | 244 days ago | 130

Snack Day isn’t for amateurs. #SoccerDad

58,844 Likes | 246 days ago | 1,027

#tbt So long ago I can’t remember whether this was the #Emmys or my #Prom 🤔

22,192 Likes | 248 days ago | 261

This is a man who was once made fun of for the way he talked, for being too “gay”, too weird. He could have gotten bitter. Instead he got better and better, built an empire, and now he uses his power to give people who have been marginalized a voice, an opportunity, a job - HALF of the people he hires are women, minorities, or people of color. That’s been his policy. And when I informed him that I had a baby due in the last month of shooting, which would require him to reconfigure a monstrous production, blow up the best-laid plans of hundreds of professionals, even possibly reconceive his creative... he didn’t hesitate. “We’ll shoot you out,” he said. And he did. He created space for me to be home with my wife leading up to the birth, and for it to happen naturally - with me there. A lot of inexcusable behavior in our business has been rightfully called out this last year... I just wanted to call out some of the good I happened to witness. Congrats @mrrpmurphy

33,681 Likes | 249 days ago | 819

Anybody who watched #DawsonsCreek will recognize this location. It’s now underwater, as is much of the state. These are resilient communities who come together in times of disaster (I rode out several hurricanes myself in that red brick building, after boarding up those two windows facing camera), but #Wilmington is currently inaccessible by highway, and many parts of the region will be facing an epic journey to recovery after unprecedented rains and historic flooding. American Red Cross and Donors Choose are always good bets to donate. Link in my bio on choosing a way to give and what to watch out for. I learned a lot in the South... my heart is with you, Carolinas 💙#hurricaneflorence #Repost @ki_aneri ・・・ #hurricane #florence #downtown #wilmingtonnc #🙏🏻

27,814 Likes | 249 days ago | 281

Dessert is a sure-fire attentiveness enhancer.

31,063 Likes | 251 days ago | 204

Everybody was equally thrilled about the 8AM soccer game...

15,865 Likes | 252 days ago | 168

“98% certain I remembered to turn off the oven...” Photo by @robbieaugspurger #Repost @robbieaugspurger ・・・ Very excited to share some classy photos I took recently. SMOKE & MIRRORS featuring @vanderjames wearing @giorgioarmani for @crmensbook. Kewl styling by @juliaehrlich

73,115 Likes | 253 days ago | 1,084

Your heart expands beyond logic to make room for each new child. Your bed, however... does you no such favors.

6,973 Likes | 253 days ago | 33

#tbt That road trip a few years back when we took the #minivan off the beaten path, had a spat over something so stupid I don’t even remember what it was, got lost, and found one of my favorite spots in earth. #MinivanMountainMan 💪🏻

33,416 Likes | 254 days ago | 514

“The days were long, the years were short.” That’s what parents of older children have said to me about raising kids. And it feels true already. It’s SO easy to get consumed by the stresses, the daily grind, the little dramas that won’t even register in your memory a year later. Seven years into #parenthood, I’m realizing more and more that all that really matters... are the moments of connection. So when they happen, give yourself permission to wipe everything off the table and be 100% fully present for them. They’ll make the days happier, and the years worthwhile. ❤️ #ThatsMyPlanAndImStickingToIt #OrAtLeastTrying

36,434 Likes | 256 days ago | 429

I’ve gotten super-nerdy about #pancakes... adding ingredients, experimenting, making them healthy, gluten-free, blah blah blah. I’d like to tell myself these smiles wouldn’t be as big if I just squeezed some batter out of a plastic bottle... so that’s exactly what I’m going to tell myself 🤫

78,915 Likes | 259 days ago | 3,549

Wanted to say a thing or two about miscarriages... of which we’ve had three over the years (including right before this little beauty). First off - we need a new word for it. “Mis-carriage”, in an insidious way, suggests fault for the mother - as if she dropped something, or failed to “carry.” From what I’ve learned, in all but the most obvious, extreme cases, it has nothing to do with anything the mother did or didn’t do. So let’s wipe all blame off the table before we even start. Second... it will tear you open like nothing else. It’s painful and it’s heartbreaking on levels deeper than you may have ever experienced. So don’t judge your grief, or try to rationalize your way around it. Let it flow in the waves in which it comes, and allow it it’s rightful space. And then... once you’re able... try to recognize the beauty in how you put yourself back together differently than you were before. Some changes we make proactively, some we make because the universe has smashed us, but either way, those changes can be gifts. Many couples become closer than ever before. Many parents realize a deeper desire for a child than ever before. And many, many, many couples go on to have happy, healthy, beautiful babies afterwards (and often very quickly afterwards - you’ve been warned 😍). I’ve heard some amazing metaphysical explanations for them, mostly centering around the idea that these little souls volunteer for this short journey for the benefit of the parents... but please share whatever may have given you peace or hope along the way... Along with a new word for this experience. #miscarriage #WeNeedANewName #MoreCommonThanYouHearAbout @vanderkimberly

18,649 Likes | 260 days ago | 172

When you turn the TV off, bugs become rock stars ⭐️

24,939 Likes | 262 days ago | 225

I never looked this cool on the first day of school... *(or any day of school, technically)

30,210 Likes | 264 days ago | 437

(As David Attenborough): For the adult male homo sapien, reaching the shore is only the beginning... Ahead of him lies the long journey across the sand, offspring in tow, along with a wagon-full of crap he’ll have to cart back when the day is done. It’s the closest he’ll get to #BurningMan this year, but such is the life of a parent on #LaborDayWeekend... ❤️

12,743 Likes | 267 days ago | 209

I’m not really allowed to say much about the movie I’m shooting right now... but my character wears this. I feel like this says a lot 😎

12,677 Likes | 268 days ago | 118

#tbt Living my best life with a #bowlcut, #poloshirt and mad sock game at 15 months 😎

“You’re not really taking this picture without tucking in that big tag next to my head... are you, Daddy?”

12,405 Likes | 278 days ago | 100

Sunday, Sunday, Sunday!!

10,962 Likes | 279 days ago | 93

Hi, I’m Matt Bromley. You might remember me from such films as “That 80’s A-Hole”, and “Greed: The Musical!” Are you missing watching #PoseFX on Sundays? Well... have I got news for you! Now, through the magic of computing, the entire first season of @poseonfx is now available for your viewing pleasure on FXNOW. Stream yourself some critically-acclaimed television today 👍

9,849 Likes | 279 days ago | 127

I’ve always had an odd relationship with fame. When it first happened, I was never able to make sense of it, what to do with it, or how to “enjoy” it. Then I had kids. It still doesn’t make any real sense... but on days like today, I’m starting to see its utility 🤔 😍 @monsterjam

24,694 Likes | 280 days ago | 125

That’s the #Ocean, kiddo... it’s everywhere around the world at once. Sure, it’s different temperatures, different depths, it behaves differently, and different creatures call different parts of it home... but don’t fall for our fancy labels, or how we’ve tried to divide it up - it’s all the same big body of water.

26,559 Likes | 280 days ago | 178

So far, so good... #DateNight

6,064 Likes | 281 days ago | 27

Dad quotes #Siddhartha once...

12,154 Likes | 282 days ago | 209

#tbt Parentals, circa 1976

18,338 Likes | 282 days ago | 330

He wanted a pet dinosaur. Then his sister caught him a lizard. The moral of this story: Have lots of kids 👍🤔🤪 *(Even though you’ll probably fall behind on haircuts 😬)

7,308 Likes | 283 days ago | 40

“A truth can only be expressed and be enveloped in words if it is one-sided. Everything that is thought and expressed in words is one-sided, only half the truth; it lacks all totality, completeness, unity.” - Hermann Hesse * (This thought occurs to all writers at some point... and it can either liberate you or debilitate you. Or both 🤯)

19,136 Likes | 284 days ago | 319

Congratulations to the cast of #Friends on beating #DawsonsCreek out for “Choice Throwback TV Show” at the #TeenChoiceAwards last night. I’m sure my kids won’t mind playing with this for another year...

19,372 Likes | 285 days ago | 197

Be crazy enough to let your heart shine through ❤️

6,809 Likes | 287 days ago | 372

Worth mentioning that when Bayer bought Monsanto in a recent humongous deal, they opted to phase out the “Monsanto” name. Also worth remembering that big campaign against requiring GMO labeling (Monsanto makes genetically modified seed that is resistant to Round-Up - which they also happen to make and is what they got in trouble for here)... b/c it would “increase prices for consumers”... presumably b/c there’s no nutritional info currently on packaging labels? 🤔 #Repost @vanderkimberly ・・・ Reminder: please call your city parks and rec and ask them for their spray schedule. Don’t attend parks with your beautiful little angels the day after they spray. Better yet... tell them to STOP SPRAYING!!! Another reminder: buy organic when you can. The frozen food aisle, farmers markets and whole sale grocery’s tends to be the most affordable place for organic. What else can we do to protect ourself from weed/human killers? 💚

14,064 Likes | 287 days ago | 99

I’m in creation mode... #writing every day. It’s a weird thing, to assure yourself and others of your ability to deliver on magic that, by nature, can never fully be understood. But I’m determined to no longer think of this as a battle with the unknown... but as a dance. To embrace the mystery at the pace it wishes to unfold, and to recognize within these new projects a desire to be discovered, to be shared... to manifest. In the metaphor for this process, I’m not sure whether I’m me in this photo or my daughter. Kind of feeling like both. #CreativeProcess

18,694 Likes | 288 days ago | 128

#tbt A few summers ago when I decided to thrill my son by taking him on a super-exciting #kayak ride.

66,979 Likes | 291 days ago | 579

Whatever my shortcomings as a father, as an artist, as a human... it’s nice to know I still make a completely adequate pillow. #fatherhood ❤️

53,517 Likes | 294 days ago | 765

Leave with kids, come back with teammates ❤️ #travel #worthit

26,775 Likes | 295 days ago | 225

Flying casual...

17,655 Likes | 295 days ago | 158

#tbt My father JUST showed me this pic from when I was 5 (I’m on the right)... at the SAME LAKE I just posted and - I think - looking the same direction. Had no idea I’d been there before - just felt at home in nature and captioned it “Touching home base.” Mind blown 🤯

12,141 Likes | 295 days ago | 129

Touching home base...

39,032 Likes | 296 days ago | 503

8 trips around the sun with this one as my bride. Can’t even really begin to express how grateful I am to have found her... so I’ll just say thank you @vanderkimberly for enriching my life in ways I could have never realized on my lonesome. There’s a reason we pair up in this life... #HappyAnniversary baby ❤️

39,272 Likes | 297 days ago | 332

Warning: Images on Instagram may not come as easily as they appear 😵 * (but they’re worth it)

16,599 Likes | 298 days ago | 101

Tiny finger seeks grown-up nostril.

10,756 Likes | 299 days ago | 71

#Buddha said so much deep sh*t about rivers... I figured why not sit by a babbling brook and see what it had to say. You know what? That Buddha was onto something.

14,755 Likes | 300 days ago | 137

“Our life is frittered away by detail... simplify, simplify.” - Henry David Thoreau

18,128 Likes | 302 days ago | 259

Road warriors 😎

37,045 Likes | 302 days ago | 451

Heavy and rolling 🤟🏻

21,666 Likes | 302 days ago | 236

#NextLifeGoals

41,937 Likes | 304 days ago | 579

#Breastfeeding moms everywhere... we salute you ✌️

37,124 Likes | 305 days ago | 504

Just need to figure how to carry two more at the same time & I’m set 👍

15,152 Likes | 306 days ago | 71

There’s always crazy sh*t happening in the world. In your life, in your business, in your day... Sometimes it requires action. And sometimes you need to just appreciate the moment as if it’s the only thing that exists. *(because it is)

8,819 Likes | 306 days ago | 118

Cheers to the season finale of @poseonfx! To the incredible cast, crew and creative team, led by the singular @mrrpmurphy, y’all are as inspiring as you are talented, and congrats to you all on season two 🍾 Honored to have had a seat on this historic ride. #posefx

30,037 Likes | 307 days ago | 254

Technically, they’re both supposed to be napping...

22,424 Likes | 308 days ago | 120

“I can be cute, too. Pay attention to me.” - My #dog.

13,087 Likes | 309 days ago | 110

Take your daughter to work day. Friday’s @wendyshow 🤗

3,711 Likes | 309 days ago | 158

#tbt JUST released deleted scene from #TheRulesOfAttraction, via @roger.avary. Sean Bateman calling his older brother Patrick (yes, THAT Patrick Bateman... the #AmericanPsycho) to ask for money. I get why this scene was cut... which means I scraped the sh*t out of my knuckles on that pay phone for nothing. And broke the phone 😬. Link to the scene in my bio.

1,941 Likes | 309 days ago | 75

#tbt Last Thursday’s news ❤️🧡💛💚💙@poseonfx has already been picked up for a second season, so it’s safe to invest your time & heart. Start binging now & you can watch the season one finale live this Sunday 👍🏻👍🏼👍🏽👍🏾👍🏿 Tag a friend who NEEDS to watch or to watch it with you.

11,975 Likes | 311 days ago | 129

If you think I wouldn’t post about @GQ naming me “Best Dressed Man” this week, you clearly have no idea how badly dressed I was in high school. And college. And most of my twenties. 🙌🏻 @ilariaurbinati ・・・ #1 @GQ Best Dressed Men of the Week: “Van Der Beek’s look is proof that you don’t need to pile on the layers to look elegant, especially when the weather outside is pushing three digits” thanks GQ! @vanderjames in @thom__sweeney + @ovadiaandsons + @iwcwatches + @oliverpeoples + @davidyurman + @markcross shoes - styled by @ilariaurbinati

25,158 Likes | 312 days ago | 360

Ummm... So, yeah. Everything below is true 😬. #Repost @vanderkimberly ❤️ ・・・ Olivia then and now. Baby Olivia was decked out in mitts, colicky, nursed anytime she made a peep, put in front of the TV on a swing, we used the sound of an actual hair dryer to try and get her to sleep, she was swung much harder than I care to admit, we had her do tummy time even though she protested it, cried whenever we dressed her... well the list goes on. Parenting is, BIG TIME, trial and error and I didn’t have a lot of friends with kids. THE GOOD NEWS... Olivia is a fabulous young lady. She didn’t break. She had her own journey and being the first was a part of it. What she has always had is endless love from me and James. We did what we knew best and that’s all any of us can do. I share this because, while I have lots of advice for you after the fifth child, I was a first time Mom too. Sharing with you is THE ONLY reason I have decided to stay on Instagram. It takes time away from life. But I feel very compelled to share things that I wish I always knew. And I hope that it helps. 🦋🦋If you have children in your life, please share your top advice below. 🦋🦋 We all learn from one another. Mine: Get your information and then trust your intuition. There’s no one size fits all in parenting. 💗

25,437 Likes | 314 days ago | 506

The OG’s... then and now. Back then he used to wait until she fell asleep and then sneak into her bed... now he gets invited. Kids always come into this world on their own time, and in their own way... but if you’re debating whether to try for two back-to-back or to space them out... let me put in a vote for as close together as possible 😍 #siblings

5,619 Likes | 315 days ago | 55

Did this interview yesterday not knowing @poseonfx had been picked up for a second season. Swipe left ⬅️ to see how I would have looked had I known... Huge congrats to the cast, crew and creative team! Yet to be determined what my involvement might be, but psyched this saga will continue to have a place on TV. Good on ya’ @fxnetworks 🙌

30,274 Likes | 316 days ago | 385

“Daddy... it’s not like we get quiet like this every day.” #True Proof that when someone told me a key to parenting was to take your kids on solo trips... they were giving me #GoodAdvice. Tag a parent & pass it along ❤️

48,102 Likes | 316 days ago | 794

Man, life is crazy... life is beautiful. When I was 15, trying to land my first acting job, I’d walk through theatre row at dusk just to feel the energy, to soak in the excitement. I couldn’t afford a ticket to a Broadway show, but I’d save up to buy standing room every once in a while and dream of what it would be like to actually get to go back stage, see the machinery, talk shop with the actors... Today I had two tickets in my name for @anastasiabway... one of them for my oldest daughter. I watched her experience the magic of live theater, meet the stellar cast with stars in her eyes, and then hang out with one of my favorite humans - a woman who first played my mother on stage at 16 before becoming everyone’s all-time Grams - the supernatural #MaryBethPeil. So many crazy, frustrating, uncertain moments on this journey, but every in a while the universe clicks into place and you realize you just hit a jackpot. Tonight was one of those moments.

Been traveling with this one since the beginning... all of a sudden she’s a companion #DaddyDaughterWorkTrip

36,645 Likes | 318 days ago | 449

#ProTip: #Newborns have a grace period when the ambient noise of a restaurant actually lulls them to sleep. So reserve a booth at your favorite restaurant and take your baby momma out for a much-needed date before this window closes 👍 (#AndDontLetAnybodyCoughOnYourKid) @vanderkimberly

24,636 Likes | 318 days ago | 338

Can’t decide whether this looks like I’m trying to pose for a catalogue for clothes or for #babies.

10,801 Likes | 318 days ago | 168

#Protip: 5 kids, no sleep, 1,000 miles driven and extreme heat are not performance enhancers in the not-getting-sick deptartment. But they are all fun.

14,094 Likes | 319 days ago | 436

Hey @elonmusk... you got anything lying around @spacex that can cut through bureaucracy? (Pic by @pia.guerra via @the_nib)

41,241 Likes | 320 days ago | 8,944

This is not me watching TV. I swear 🤥. Curious why you started following me... Was it a specific project? Do you have a favorite? Or have you never seen anything I’ve done and just now realized you’re not following Jean Claude Van Damme? Anyway... lmk

14,533 Likes | 320 days ago | 139

@evanpeters is a really good f*cking actor. I realize this is hardly news, but I didn’t want to go without saying that one of the joys of working on @poseonfx was constantly having a committed scene partner with zero ego, whose first priority was the work, who listened and was present in every take of every scene, and who was so, well... just flat-out good that it made my job easy. It’s not a given to come out of a gig feeling like a better actor than you went in, but this one feels like that. And Evan was key. Thanks bud. Sorry for all the torture I put you through on screen 😬#GivePropsWhenDue. He really goes there in tonight’s episode. 9pm on FX

22,551 Likes | 321 days ago | 182

When it’s hot as hell... run towards it #Hawaii Day 😎

16,823 Likes | 321 days ago | 270

5 kids, one #minivan... no problem 👍 #tetris #DadSkills (And we won’t speak of that time I forced the back gate closed, exploding the windshield and cutting a gash in my wrist when we were running 20 min late to leave for the airport. Because we don’t need to speak of that. I’ve already forgotten it 🤫)

11,666 Likes | 323 days ago | 101

#MadMax: Toddler Road

6,739 Likes | 323 days ago | 56

Whatever mistakes I’ve made as a parent (and in life)... my kids learned how to play kickball in a vineyard. Thanks @spahnny and @jennyalden for a magical week ☺️

14,300 Likes | 324 days ago | 131

Guys... I really f*cking love this country.🇺🇸 #happy4th

39,346 Likes | 325 days ago | 1,635

Warning: The following contains graphic cuteness. If you are not used to obscenely high doses of cuteness, please consult your doctor before viewing. 👍

24,386 Likes | 325 days ago | 247

Do this baby and this feather make me look cool?

7,750 Likes | 326 days ago | 184

In my defense: a) We don’t have a bidet at home, and b) acting like a grown-up would be boring

26,864 Likes | 327 days ago | 288

#protip when you take the I-5 north, there are exactly zero playgrounds along the way... so all you can do is let the kids pee under an overpass and compare hair curls while wondering if the twentysomethings house-sitting for you are throwing a party 🤔

15,138 Likes | 328 days ago | 141

Crushing life *(circa 1989) @poseonfx NEW EPISODE Sunday 9pm on FX.

65,022 Likes | 329 days ago | 1,882

A few things I forgot between babies four and five: Dads, when your #newborn has been fed, changed, and is still upset, swaddle them up and hold them. Check in with them. Feel their face on yours. Talk to them. Rub their back, sway gently, hum, make the “swishy” sound in their ear to replicate the sound of Mom’s heartbeat in utero. If they’re still crying and it breaks your heart... that’s fatherhood. If you move past heartbreak into exasperation... that’s fatherhood. If they start screaming and you find yourself wanting to say “Oh, C’MON!” out loud... that’s fatherhood. If you feel helpless and inadequate and like you’re staring at a final exam full of questions you couldn’t possibly have known to study for... that’s fatherhood. And if you push through that... become more present than you’ve ever been, discover instincts you never knew you had, and summon up more love and patience than you’ve maybe ever shown anybody... and they either take it, or get tired, or finally work out that fart that was bothering them and fall asleep on your chest... and you suddenly feel like you beat the system, got nominated for a Nobel Prize and got told “I love you” by the first girl you ever loved... THAT’s fatherhood. Welcome... Glad you’re here. 💙